Improved car-coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. B. BLACKSTONE.

Car Coupling.

No. 83.907. Patented Nov. 10, 1868.

a, z F /J"a c M. v. N-w" w T. B. BLACKSTONE. 2 TY Car Coupling. No. 83,907. Patented Nov. 10, 1868.

q E 8N2 x m x k E2: Q, \K a l 1 EN: n

V 2227066 3 66' jgtvengor (if L/ M I MW n. PETERS. Pmmum mr. wmen m, D c

finiml 7 mm gem w esea W i hjiirr.

TIMOTHY B. BLACKSTONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

I Letters Patent No. 83,907, dated November 10, I868.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

The Schedule referred. to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY B. BLACKS'IONE,OI Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in constructing and connecting railway-cars, which I call Safety Oar-Platform and Coupling and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whic h- Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of the sills or frame-work of a port-ion of two cars.

Figure 2, a vertical section of the same.

Figure 3, a section showing a modification of the coupling, using hooks instead of bolts and pins.

Like letters refer to vthe same parts in all of the figures.

The nature and object of my invention consist in bringing the platforms or ends of adjoining cars together by the use of a peculiar coupling, and in holding them together on the same level, thereby preventing both jarring, and also independent vertical and lateral movement of the several cars.

Among the advantages gained by my invention are the following, viz:

First, immunity from danger in passing from one car to another.

- Second, safety in case of accident to or derangement of the running gear, or displacement from the rails.

Third, preventing the telescoping of cars.

' Fourth, great steadiness of motion. By the use of this improvement, as great steadiness can be secured with four-wheeled trucks, as is now found with six and eight-wheeled ones,

- Fifth, rendering more certain the operation of trainbrakes.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my safety car-platform and coupling, I proceed to describe the construction and operation of the same.

In the drawings, A represents the cross-sills of a car, as usually constructed, and O, the usual longitudinal sills. A also represents the end-sill of the carpropcr, and the space between A and B, the usual platform; B representing the end-sill of the platform on the endsill of a car when no platform is attached. It is slightly curved in front, as shown. 1

Beneath these sills, I place additional sills or beams D, which pass under the cars sufiiciently far to be thoroughly andsecurely fastened thereto, and'projeot out beyond the platform about sixteen inches.

The outer ends are somewhat bevelled at the sides, and on the top considerably, as shown at K, fig. 2, commencing about six inches from the end, and from that point outwards and downwards, at an angle of about twenty-three degrees.

The object of this bevel is twofold: first, to enable them to pass readily under adjoining platforms when and thereby relieve the cars from strains which would otherwise take place.

In order to give greater strength, the beams I), and the platform, or either, may be trussed or braced with iron rods or otherwise. When cars are so constructed, and the platforms are brought together and held on the same level, couplings of ordinary construction will not be found to answer the required conditions, as the cars must be held together with considerable firmness, and yet so as to yield somewhat. I therefore make a coupling as shown and hereindescribed.

The principal portion, E, ofthis coupling, is made with the sides parallel, and is provided with a bufier-head and link-openin g or mouth, in the usual manner, except that the opening has more vertical space. In this portion, E, I place a sliding head, F. The outer end of this head F is provided with a fixed pin or bolt, d, whichholds the rear end of a link, a, and keeps it in place. The bolt or pin d is set in the rear of the draw-bolt or pin b, and at the rear end of the link there is a small projection, e, to prevent the link from sliding back when the cars are brought in contact, but it is slightly inclined or arranged, so that the link can, by pressing A modification of this arrangement is shown in fig.

3, where the outer end of this head is provided with a hook, f, and spring g. The hook f is so constructed at its base that it will hold the link level, as where the link fits in, the portion of the hook immediately above the link is horizontal, and there are ledges or rests at -the side, which keep the link in place, when resting on .the head F, and independently of the mouth or head of the coupling, and the link is held in place by the curve of the spring, as shown in fig. 3.

In the same opening of the part, E, I also place a heel-piece, G, in the draw-bar I, leaving a space between that and the head F, for the insertion of the right and left screw-bolt or rod J, as shown. This coupling rests against the rubber spring H, and is held in place by the bolt or rod I, which passes through the rear end of the coupling E, through the spring H, cross-sill A, and a similar spring, H, behind the sill A, and isadjnsted by the nut c.

It will usually be found advisable to make the heelpiece G and rod I of one piece of metal, and it will be obvious that other than rubber springs can be used, but I prefer rubber. 1 1

When put in place, the springs H H are compressed to about 'one-half of the springing capacity, by screwing up nut c, and when two cars are brought together, and the links caught, the belt or rod J is turned until the heads E are brought'together with considerable pressure, and the cars will be held firmly, so that there will be no jerking in starting, and still sufiicient elas ticity will remain to answer the requirements of buffersprings.

The cars are uncoupled by the use of the rod or bar J, which throws the head F forward, and loosens the links so that the bolt b can be drawn. When hooks are used, the links will 'be thrown, at one end or the other, out from the hooks f, and in case it should be desired to change ends with the links, or insert others, it can be done by hand without much difficulty.

The draw-bar or buffer E is provided with holes, 12, so that when the heads F are drawn back, or when one of them is brought in contact with the common drawbar, ordinary links and pins can be used.

In order to facilitate the operation of the bar J, I propose to make a trap-door in the platform, and at tach a ratchet-wrench to the rod J, so that it can be operated rapidly, and without the necessity of getting under the cars. It, however, can be operated successfully by an ordinary wrench.

By the use of this coupling, and the beams D, if by any cause any of the wheels, axles, or other running parts of a car should be broken, the adjoining car will hold up the broken car, and even carry it without any truck.

It is obvious that the sliding head B may be moved by other devices than that shown, such as bars, cams, wheels, and eccentrics, 'and my improvement can be used without platforms, the devices being applied directly to the cars.

Modifications of the beams D can also be made,- or they may be wholly dispensed with, and other means adopted to perform their functions. For example, the sills B might be brought in contact and provided with grooves, and corresponding tongues; and other devices will 'readily be suggested to those skilled in the art, but

they will all operate upon the same principle.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The hollow bufi'er E, constructed as described, in combination with the draw-head F and heel G, connected by the rightand left screw J, or other suitable device for drawing the head 7 F back, substantially as specified. v

2. The combination and arrangement of the hollow bufler E, the movably-connecterl draw-head F, and heel G, with the springs H and H, substantially as specified.

3. The combination and arrangement of the beams D, applied to the platform or end of a car, with any suitable close drawn coupling, substantially and for the purposes specified.

T. B. BLAOKSTONE.

Witnesses:

E. B. SHERMAN E. A. WEST. 

